Tekken 8 Review: A Homecoming of Nostalgia

Returning to Tekken 8 after spending over 40 hours with the game for this review felt like coming back to an old friend. Despite the somewhat cringe-worthy opener, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being reunited with a series I hold dear. Tekken 8 exudes nostalgia but manages to wrap it up in an incredibly accessible package, making it welcoming even for newcomers. This installment represents a significant leap forward from its predecessor, offering a bombastic showdown that any fan of fighting games should experience, regardless of how long it’s been since their last King of Iron Fist Tournament.

An Engaging Story Mode

The game’s story, titled “The Dark Awakens,” serves as a fitting culmination to the ongoing conflict between the father-and-son duo Jin Kazama and Kazuya Mishima. Spanning years, this narrative journey is a nostalgic trip filled with dramatic moments that genuinely surprised me with its quality. The pacing of the story mode is fantastic, seamlessly blending cinematics with fights across numerous chapters. The beautifully animated cutscenes, reminiscent of epic anime-scale battles, kept me hooked throughout my nearly four-hour playthrough. Some chapters deviate from the standard formula, offering refreshing gameplay experiences that prevent monotony from setting in.

While the dialogue and translations can be a bit shaky at times, Tekken 8 delivers one of the most cohesive stories in the series. Every character in the base roster gets their moment to shine, with nods to previous games and references that longtime fans will appreciate. Even newcomers will find plenty of drama and entertainment, thanks to the action-packed narrative and helpful primers for catching up on the story.

Accessible Gameplay Mechanics

One standout addition to Tekken 8 is the Special Style control scheme, which offers a more casual and action-oriented way to play. Combos are executed with a single button press, with directional inputs influencing the moves performed. As someone not well-versed in every character’s intricacies, Special Style made playing unfamiliar fighters much more enjoyable for me. While it may be more limited compared to similar offerings in other games, such as Street Fighter 6’s Modern controls, it serves as an excellent starting point for beginners or casual players.

The introduction of the Heat system adds a layer of strategy to battles, requiring players to manage a meter that enhances certain moves and enables powerful Heat Smashes. While some veteran players may initially dismiss Heat, its integration with chip damage and recoverable health changes the dynamic of each fight. Strategically managing resources to maximize the impact of Heat abilities adds depth to gameplay and encourages tactical thinking.

Exploring Tekken 8’s Offline Modes

In addition to “The Dark Awakens,” Tekken 8 offers several other offline modes to keep players engaged. Character episodes provide entertaining “what if?” scenarios for the entire roster, offering amusing moments like a Mishima family camping trip or Panda enjoying her best life. While the fights themselves can feel sluggish, and the AI lacks challenge even on Hard difficulty, the opening and ending cutscenes for each character make these episodes worth experiencing. Additionally, the return of Tekken Ball, a mode last seen in Tag Tournament 2, was a pleasant surprise. Placing fighters on a beach to volley a beach ball around adds a fun diversion between intense matches and promises to be a favorite among friends.

Yearning for Classic Modes

A desire for more classic single-player and offline modes persists among players. The potential return of Survival, Team Battle, and Time Attack modes would further enrich the game’s offline offerings, providing additional longevity and variety.

Enhanced Training Mode

Tekken 8 boasts the most comprehensive training mode in the series, offering players a robust environment to hone their skills and explore mechanics.

Arcade Quest: A Second Story Mode

The new Arcade Quest mode serves as a secondary story mode, focusing on arcade culture and providing a more casual experience compared to “The Dark Awakens.” Players assume the role of a mini-avatar in a friend group discovering Tekken 8. While the mode is short and lacks substantial depth, its tutorials offer valuable lessons for newcomers, covering topics such as punishing unsafe moves and utilizing the Heat system. The overall tone of the story is light-hearted, with the highlight being the Super Ghost Battle mode unlocked after early progression.

The next battle

Super Ghost Battle and Online Learning

Super Ghost Battle in Tekken 8 offers a unique opportunity to challenge NPC ghosts, earn experience, and occasionally unlock costumes. Additionally, players can train against their own ghost, providing valuable insights into their gameplay habits and weaknesses. Studying one’s ghost is not only a learning tool but also provides entertaining moments as players face off against their virtual selves.

During the brief period when online servers were active, players could also study other players’ ghosts to learn from their strategies without the pressure of facing a live opponent. Player ghosts evolve based on their real-life counterparts’ gameplay across offline and online modes, offering continuous learning opportunities.

Enhanced Training Mode

Tekken 8 features an unparalleled training mode, offering combo challenges for every character and detailed explanations of move properties and combo setups. The inclusion of frame data, a crucial aspect for fighting games, is a welcome addition. However, the abundance of options in the training mode may overwhelm newcomers, although it provides valuable tools for experienced players to fine-tune their skills.

Replays & Tips Feature

The Replays & Tips feature is a game-changer, allowing players to review recent matches against CPU or real opponents. It provides command history, frame data, and tips on dealing with various situations. The ability to take control of either side during replay playback enables players to analyze their mistakes and experiment with different approaches instantly. This feature streamlines scenario setup, offering a convenient way to practice punishing moves and improving overall gameplay.

Enter the Fight Lounge

Exploring Tekken 8’s Online Features and Customization

Venturing into Tekken 8’s online mode, I brought along the tips and tricks I learned while mastering my main character, Claudio Serafino. Beyond accessing online options from the main menu, I discovered the ability to take my Arcade Quest avatar into a social lobby and engage with other players around virtual arcade cabinets.

The immersive experience of walking around and spectating other players added an extra layer of enjoyment to the online environment.

One of the standout changes in Tekken 8 is the implementation of a system where players cannot lose points for their first 10 ranks. This adjustment relieved the pressure of early losses, allowing me to view the lower ranks as a learning curve rather than a constant battle for rank stability.

However, Tekken 8’s netcode still leaves much to be desired. Despite playing across various regions and connections, including Wi-Fi, I only found stable connections with players using Ethernet and in my region. Encounters with Wi-Fi players often resulted in severe lag and input drops, highlighting the netcode’s inconsistency.

While improvements have been made compared to Tekken 7, Tekken 8 still has a long way to go to match the standards set by other fighting games.

In addition to netcode issues, customization in Tekken 8 falls short of expectations. Despite promises of more options and freedom, the available choices feel limited. Male fighters have minimal clothing options, while female fighters have a slightly wider selection. However, customization items often fit awkwardly on characters, and the absence of a color wheel for certain features restricts creative expression.

Previewing customization items is a cumbersome process, requiring multiple loading pop-ups and lacking the convenience of automatic try-ons. Considering Bandai Namco’s success with character customization in games like Soulcalibur, the shortcomings in Tekken 8’s customization options are disappointing. While some improvements have been made over Tekken 7, the overall customization experience feels lacking, deterring players from experimenting with character appearances.

Efficient Operations/Smooth running

Tekken 8 runs seamlessly on my gaming rig, maintaining a steady 60fps on Ultra settings during battles and well-connected online matches. While I occasionally encountered minor slowdowns during character intros, they quickly disappeared once the round began, with no impact on gameplay. Visually, the game is stunning, with atmospheric lighting and stages like Into the Stratosphere and Arena (Underground) standing out. The character roster looks fantastic, with details like dust and moisture adding to the realism.

Portability is crucial for me, especially when gaming with friends. I successfully ran Tekken 8 on my Steam Deck at a steady 60fps with medium to low settings, using GE Proton for compatibility. While the graphics may not be as crisp, they remain readable, which is essential for gameplay on the go.

Tekken 8 has become a staple in my gaming rotation, offering a thrilling experience that ranks among the best in the series. While it has its weaknesses, such as netcode issues and limited customization options, these can potentially be addressed through patches. Overall, Tekken 8 is a must-play for both longtime fans and newcomers alike, offering a perfect blend of nostalgia and accessibility. It’s an exhilarating and fun-filled experience that I can’t wait to dive back into.

FAQ: Tekken 8

1. What is the storyline of Tekken 8?

• Tekken 8 features a narrative titled “The Dark Awakens,” which centers around the longstanding conflict between Jin Kazama and Kazuya Mishima. Spanning years, this storyline offers a nostalgic journey filled with dramatic moments, seamlessly blending cinematics with fights across numerous chapters.

2. How accessible is the gameplay mechanics in Tekken 8?

• Tekken 8 introduces the Special Style control scheme, offering a more casual and action-oriented way to play. Combos can be executed with a single button press, making it enjoyable for newcomers or casual players. Additionally, the Heat system adds depth to battles, requiring strategic management of resources to maximize its impact.

3. What offline modes does Tekken 8 offer?

• Apart from the main story mode, “The Dark Awakens,” Tekken 8 provides several other offline modes such as character episodes, Tekken Ball, and the new Arcade Quest mode, offering a variety of gameplay experiences.

4. How does Super Ghost Battle enhance the gameplay experience?

• Super Ghost Battle mode allows players to challenge NPC ghosts, train against their own ghosts, and learn from other players’ strategies. It offers continuous learning opportunities and adds an extra layer of depth to the gameplay.

5. What improvements have been made in the training mode of Tekken 8?

• Tekken 8 boasts the most comprehensive training mode in the series, offering combo challenges for every character, detailed explanations of move properties, and the inclusion of frame data, crucial for fighting games.

6. How does the online mode of Tekken 8 enhance social interaction?

• Tekken 8’s online mode features a social lobby where players can interact around virtual arcade cabinets, adding an immersive experience to the online environment.

7. What are some issues faced in Tekken 8, particularly concerning netcode and customization?

• Despite improvements, Tekken 8 still faces netcode issues, especially when playing against Wi-Fi players. Additionally, customization options feel limited and lack the depth seen in other games like Soulcalibur.

8. How does Tekken 8 perform in terms of efficiency and smooth operation?

• Tekken 8 runs seamlessly, maintaining a steady 60fps on compatible devices, with visually stunning graphics and well-designed character details. It is also portable, running smoothly on devices like the Steam Deck.

9. Overall, what is the verdict on Tekken 8?

• Tekken 8 is praised as a must-play for both longtime fans and newcomers alike, offering a perfect blend of nostalgia and accessibility. Despite its weaknesses, it offers a thrilling and fun-filled experience that ranks among the best in the series.